Sixth and final go at a fast mile.

It was all a bit of a disaster because the mile loop I have run every other fast mile on is too overgrown to really put a big effort in.

So I just ran down the road for a mile.

Without getting too technical I believe this mile might just be a bit more downhill. Strava says today’s route has 21ft elevation gain, compared with 27ft elevation gain on the old loop. So, a difference of 6ft:

Today’s mile time: 6.33

So what have we discovered over the last month? Nothing really.

But I’m taking the final mile attempt as the quickest yet and calling it all a complete success.

• Attempt 1 – 6.55
• Attempt 2 – 6.48
• Attempt 3 – 6.45
• Attempt 4 – 6.44
• Attempt 5 – 6.53
• Attempt 6 – 6.33

Next month’s challenge: Juneathon is here again!!

I did this mile a week or so ago. just got around to posting.

I did the regular loop which, at the moment, is just too overgrown to give myself a chance of beating my mile time.

But gave it a go anyway: 6.53

Found the last part up the hill particularly difficult. Legs had nothing in them. Together with the very overgrown path it was a struggle to beat previous best. So overall time was 9 secs slower than best yet.

• Attempt 1 – 6.55
• Attempt 2 – 6.48
• Attempt 3 – 6.45
• Attempt 4 – 6.44
• Attempt 5 – 6.53

The next go may have to be on a new mile course.

Attempt 4 – same mile loop.

Tried to take the first bit slightly easier, which I did, not by a lot, but just enough to feel slightly more comfortable.

The second section along the footpath was a solid pace – it was pretty overgrown so it wasn’t ideal, but felt like I was keeping the speed up despite the terrain.

The third section, the tough uphill bit, was my fastest yet. Although it felt bleeding knackering as I tried to put everything into the last 300 yards or so.

1 mile in 6.44 – that is a whole second quicker than last time!

The plan is to have another go at it on Sunday.

• Attempt 1 – 6.55
• Attempt 2 – 6.48
• Attempt 3 – 6.45
• Attempt 4 – 6.44

Third attempt at a fast mile on the usual mile loop.

Today: 6.45

The fastest yet – knocks 10 secs off my first run.

No warm-up today just walked outside the house and went for it. Turns out I started way too fast, I was at 5.40 min/mile at one stage, so was really feeling it in my legs on the last bit up the hill. Also, as I got to the final bit I had a dog walker ahead so had to ease up a bit as I didn’t want to scare the life out of her and the dogs!!

• Attempt 1 – 6.55
• Attempt 2 – 6.48
• Attempt 3 – 6.45

Hoping to give it another go tomorrow.

‘The Devil’s Advocate’ by Steve Cavanagh

Cavanagh is a great thriller writer. It’s good to get back to a fast paced thriller. Really enjoyed this book. Great characters, solid plot – a tense page turner.

Would definitely recommend.

May’s Challenge: A Fast Mile Update

The second effort at a fast mile happened yesterday. The same one mile loop.

Last time I attempted it, I had run a gentle mile warm-up beforehand which seemed to work fine. This time it was on the back of a 10 mile bike ride – far from ideal – but no other time to fit it in.

I have now also created segments on Strava so I can compare the different sections of the run, yes I know, slightly geeky!

Anyway, the mile was slightly quicker than last week: 6.48 (compared to 6.55). By looking at the different sections of the run, I was running the beginning and end quicker, but the middle section – actually along the trail bit – was slower. Although this can be partly explained by the fact I wasn’t wearing trail shoes, I was in my old trainers, and the trail part was also really overgrown. Need to get round there with my shears for next time!

Hoping to get at least six attempts at the mile over the course of the month:

Attempt 1 – 6.55

Attempt 2 – 6.48

7 second improvement. We go again in the week!